Laura Nyro

"Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "And When I Die," "Stoney End," and the unforgettable "Eli's Coming."

Who among us growing up in the 60's and 70's didn't groove to these songs never knowing that they were penned by a delicate, young Libra girl born in the Bronx?

Born on October 18, 1947, to Gilda Mirsky Nigro, a bookkeeper, and Louis Nigro, a piano tuner and jazz trumpeter, Laura was an original American composer, lyricist, singer and pianist. Her style, a distinctive mix of Brill Building style New York pop mixed with elements of jazz, gospel, R&B, show tunes and rock, made an indelible mark on the music of the 60's and 70's.

She was a very creative and artsy child, and even taught herself to play the piano. She was a voracious reader especially poetry, and loved listening to artists such as Leontyne Price, Billie Holliday and classical composers such as Ravel and Debussy. Some of her favorite musicians were John Coltrane, Nina Simone, Pete Seeger, Curtis Mayfield, Van Morrison and girl groups such as Martha and the Vandellas and the Shirelles.

Like many gifted composers, she started writing music when she was very young, composing her first song at age eight. And in fact, she wrote "Wedding Bell Blues" and the young age of 17!

Laura attended the prestigious Manhattan's High School of Music and Art. During this time, she started singing with a group of friends in the subway stations and street corners of New York. She accredited this time to being one of the best times of her life. She loved the energy of creating something new.

Laura's songs held a certain intelligence that many pop songs of that era were missing and helped move the country toward higher social consciousness. In fact, she commented, "I was always interested in the social consciousness of certain songs. My mother and grandfather were progressive thinkers, so I felt at home in the peace movement and the women's movement, and that has influenced my music." Obviously, her family background provided a strong influence in her music, and has made a strong impact in many lives.

Artie Mogull auditioned Laura in 1966 and became her first manager. At that time, she experimented with other names, finally settling on Nyro (pronounced “Nero”).

Her first songwriting hit was "And When I Die" which she sold to Peter, Paul and Mary for a mere $5,000 in 1966.

Also, at this time, Laura recorded her debut album, "More Than A New Discovery" which provided material for other artists notably Barbra Streisand.

Soon after this, David Geffen approached her management wanting to represent her. Mogull was not happy with this, and Laura sued him to void her management and recording contracts on the basis that she had entered them without proper representation as a minor.

Geffen became her manager and she established her own publishing company, Tuna Fish Music with Geffen as her partner, splitting all proceeds fifty-fifty.

Geffen also arranged a new recording contract with Clive Davis at Columbia Records, and he also arranged purchase of her publishing rights to her earlier compositions. A little known fact, at this time, Laura was approached to become the lead singer for Blood, Sweat & Tears, but Geffen advised against this and she did not pursue this. Blood, Sweat & Tears subsequently had a huge hit with Laura's composition, the passionate "Eli's Coming," perhaps the first power ballad ever recorded.

Laura reveled in the new artistic freedom that she now had with Geffen and Davis. She released her second album "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" which received high critical praise for its sophistication and arrangements. This album, followed by "New York Tendaberry" in 1969, sealed Laura's reputation as an artistic force to be reckoned with.

Christmas and the Beads of Sweat" Laura's fourth album, was released at the end of 1970. This album contained some of Laura's most well known songs, "Upstairs by a Chinese Lamp," and "When I Was A Freeport." Of note, this album featured up and coming, Muscle Shoals musician, Duane Allman.

In 1971, Laura released "Gonna Take a Miracle" that was an album of her favorite teenage songs recorded with a vocal group, called Labelle (Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash). Of note, this is the only album Laura recorded of non-original material.

On a personal level, Laura was moving in another direction and married carpenter, David Bianchini in 1971. She never felt comfortable being a "celebrity" and announced her retirement at the age of 24. Geffen and Davis wanted to make her a "superstar," and certainly could have, but Laura was not comfortable in that role.

In 1976, with her marriage over, Laura came out of retirement with an album of new material, "Smile." In 1980, Laura reunited with an old friend, Maria Desiderio, a Brooklyn-born painter, who eventually became her life partner. Laura and Maria lived in Connecticut where they raised Laura's son. Sadly, Maria died in 1999. Of note, Laura's relationship with Maria came as somewhat of a shock to many of her friends and acquaintances since she had never come out as either bisexual or lesbian.

After her 1978 album, "Nested," recorded when she was pregnant with her only child, Laura took another sabbatical. She returned to recording in 1984 with "Mother's Spiritual."

In 1988, she embarked on her first tour in ten years which she dedicated to the Animal Rights Movement.

Laura's final album, "Walk the Dog and Light the Light," was released in 1993.

In 1996, Laura was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and passed away in Danbury, Connecticut on April 8, 1997 at the age of 49 from this disease. Ironically, this same disease claimed her mother's life at the same age.

Laura's music influenced many artists that we are all familiar with from Joni Mitchell to Rickie Lee Jones, Steely Dan to Todd Rundgren. Her songs have been recorded by a wide diversity of artists such as Carmen McRae, Junior Walker, Chet Atkins, Frank Sinatra, and Swing Out Sister.

Because of Laura's admirable desire to have a private life and not pursue celebrity, which she clearly could have done very few people are aware of this amazing woman who has impacted so many of our lives with her music.

Discography:

1967 - More Than a New Discovery (later reissued as Laura Nyro, 1969, and as The First Songs 1973)
1968 - Eli and the Thirteenth Confession
1969 - New York Tendaberry
1970 - Christmas and the Beads of Sweat
1971 - Gonna Take a Miracle (with Labelle)
1976 - Smile
1978 - Nested
1984 - Mother's Spiritual
1993 - Walk the Dog and Light the Light
2001 - Angel in the Dark (posthumous album recorded 1994-1995)
Live
1977 - Season of Lights
1989 - Laura: Live at the Bottom Line
2000 - Live at Mountain Stage (recorded 1990)
2002 - Live: The Loom's Desire (recorded 1993-1994)
2003 - Live in Japan (recorded 1994)
2004 - Spread Your Wings and Fly: Live at the Fillmore East May 30, 1971
Compilation
1972 - Laura Nyro sings her Greatest Hits (released in Japan only)
1980 - Impressions
1997 - Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro
2000 - Time and Love: The Essential Masters